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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: hide · plane · safe · tube · bound · chair · track · current

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. tube — a container
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. current — of water
  6. bound — obliged
  7. chair — a leader
  8. current — electric
  9. tube — the underground
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bound — tied together
  15. current — happening now
  16. bound — certain
  17. plane — a tool
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. track — to keep track
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. track — a song
  24. track — a path

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com